Dump car



Dec. 15, 1925. 1,565,350

A. E. ZIMMER DUM" CAR Filed March 28. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l A. E zlMMER Duur cm Filed llarch 28, 1923 Dec. 15I 1925.-

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTOR ALsmgRrE ZIM/YEA' /l/s A rTaKNEY A. E. zlMMl-:R

DUMP CAE Filed March 2a', 1923l 3 sheets-sheet n CTI Patented Dec. l5, 1925.

lltlllllE STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. ZIMMER, OF CIICAG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGIIGR 'I0 ENTERPRISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT CQMPANI, OF CEIICAG, ILLINOIS, A CRORATION OF ILLINOIS.

'DUIVIP CAR.

Application tiled March 28, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. ZIMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dump Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

V'lhis invention relates to improvements in dump cars and primarily to ballast cars of the convertible type adapted to discharge the lading through the bottom or the sides thereof.

In cars of the identified type, adapted to discharge lading at the sides of the track, it has heretofore been customary to employ heavy sills in the underframe to carry the load between holsters or else form the sides of trusses and dispose dumping doors in the floor of the car through which the lading is discharged. Both of said methods have disadvantages, inasmuch as in the case where the load is carried by sills formed in the underframe, the weight of the empty car is found to be excessive and, whereas this defect is partially eliminated when the load is carried through the medium of trussed sides, it has been found that the dumping area provided by the Vfloor doors is inadequate for efficient discharge of the lading.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide, a car of the type indicated, wherein the side walls act as load carrying members, and are so constructed as to retain the great strength required and still have large dumping openings formed therein, the extreme depth of the sides being utilized for this purpose thereby securing strength combined with light weight.

I have found that the most economical method of carrying out my invention is to dispose the discharge doors intermediate the tension and compression chords of a girder with the vertical members of the girder disposed between the doors.

- My invention resides, further, in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, such as will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and which will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the Serial No. 628,177.

specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of slightly more than half the side of a car embodying my improved construction. lfig. 2 is a sectional, plan view of a portion of the under-frame corresponding substantially to the line 2 2 of F ig. l. Fig.' 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view cor" responding substantially to line 3*?) of Fig. l. Fig. el is a side elevational view of slightly more than one half of the side of a car, illustrating a modification of my invention. Fig. 5 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken through one of the sides ofthe car, on a line corresponding substantially to the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view taken through one of the upright members, corresponding substantially to the line @d6 of ll ig. 4:.

In said drawings and referring first to Figs. l to 3, showing the preferred-form of the invention, the improved car is shown as having built up sides AA with side doors B hinged thereto; a single built up center sill C; fixed longitudinally extending side floor sections D; pivoted floor doors E, movable to form either the inclined side walls of a central discharge hopper, or part of a level floor gondola-car; and pivoted hopper doors If. The car is suitably tied together' by means of end sills Gr, body bolsters II, crossbeams tl, and preferably permanent ends K. The center sill C is preferably formed of I section extended from end sill to end sill, and fitted near the ends thereof with suitable draft sills L. Extending from a point near the junction of the end sill and draft sill to the junction of the body bolster and side sill on each side of the car are. horizontally disposed diagonal braces M.

rlhe sides A of the car, in the preferred form, each consist of upper and lower chords, theeupper chord, in this instance, consisting of a webplate lO having the upper margin reinforced by a bulb angle 11, and the lower chord, preferably, consisting of a web plate l2 having the upper and lower margins thereof, respectively, reinforced by angle members 13 and lil which are preferably so disposed as to have the horizontal flanges extending inwardly towards the center of car, said upper flange' 13 also forming a support for the fixed side floor section I). Intermediate said upper and lower chords are hinged doors B, preferably, numbering six to one side of a car.

The discharge openings in the sides are provided by suitably spacing the upper and lower chords from each other in a vertical direction, such vertical spacing being maintained by vertically extending members, which, at the ends of the car, consist of corner posts 15 and intermediately of the ends of the car comprise, a series of posts 16, which are preferably formed of -beam section, said posts 16 being further strengt iened by means of gusset members 1T each secured to the upper chord, lower chord and posts respectively, and disposed on either side thereof. rlhe gusset members preferably consist of fiat plates rigidi'fied by having a vertically disposed eorruo'ation 12" formed therein. rf'he lower man i of the upper chord is rigidified by means of stilfener angles 18 which riveted to the web plates 10, and extend between vthe posts. rlhe angles 18 are preferably crimped to extend over the inner flange of the beasn posts 16 and are riveted thereto. Hinge brackets 19 are riveted to both flanges of the stiffener angles 18and the dumping doors B are pivotally mounted thereon.

The corner posts 15 are formed of sufricient width to Vaccommodate the safety appliances required by law, and in this instance a ladder is shown, comprising, grab irons 2() and a sill step 21. The corner post is preferably formed of a plate bent at right angles with a flange 21 forming a portion of the end of the car, having the lower portion thereof secured to the end sill G, while at the top thereof, connectionis made with a transversely extending member 22, preferably a bulb angle; the end sills and top members thus effectively spacing the side members the top and bottoni thereof and tending to maintain the same in vertical alinement in order that they may adequately fulfill their function as load carrying members. The corner posts are further stitfened by vertically disposed angles 23 which are spacer"L from the end wall of the car a sufficient distance to provide a storage space for boards which are utilized to form the ends of the central hopper when the car is used as a center dump hopper ballast ear.

ln the particular type of side construct-ion illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the load carrying vertical members at the ends of the car are at opposite sides of the holsters to provide door openings of generous proportions at each end of the car. Such a construction would ordinarily place the lower chord on the side intermediate the body bolster and the first vertical member of the side under a bending strain and in order to relieve such lower chord of undue bending strain l have made provision for the center sill to sustain a proportion of the il YS strain, transferring such proportion of the strain to the sides through the crossbeams J which are preferably secured to the sides adjacent each vertical member and also secured to the latter.

Any suitable side door construction may be used, but the preferred form is that indicated in the drawings, consisting of a plurality .of side boards 2li, united by hinge angles 25, formed at the upper ends thereof with hinge eyes 26, the lower ends of the hinge angles being extended Abelow 'the lower margin of the door and below the floor level of the car, thereby presenting abutments 2i' which adapted to be engaged by pivoted latches -28 to maintain the doors in closed position. Said latches 28 are movable `in slotted brackets 29 secured to the lower chord of the car sides, two latches per door being generally used for doors of the average size, each pair of latches 28 being preferably connected by a bar 250 sliding in brackets 51. 'One of the latches is providefL with a downwardly extending handle 32 wiiereby the latches are operated and a locking cam 33 is engageable with the latch portion of the rhandle carrying latch to guard against unlocking movement of both latches.

I am aware that cars 'have heretofore been l constructed with side doors hinged to atop rail carried on stakes secured to a longitudinal sill in the underframe, but in such construction no attempt has been made to cause the top rail tofcooperate -with the sill in the under-frame inasmuch as the sectional area fof the top rail has not `balanced that of the underframe side sill, nor have the vertical members or stakes been of adequate strength or their disposition in the car structure such as to permit of their carrying the vertical load. In my limproved construction, however, l have utilized the full depth of the side as a beam, by attaching the :upper and lower chords thereof to the 4vertical members in such a manner that one chord will be 'in tension and the other in compression.

n Figs. 4l to 6, l have shown a vnioz'lified construction, wherein, the dumping door openings .in the side are disposed only from bolster' to bolster', only one half ofthe side of the ear be' g shown. ln said drawings, 10() designates `the bolster, 101 designates the web of the upper chord, 102 the web of the lower chord, 103 the end panel, 104; -the corner band, 105 the side top stA lening member, l0@ the outer vertical stakes, 10T inner vertical stakes, 10S vertical gusset members, 109 horizontal st :ieners for the lower margin of the upper chord, 110 the upper stiffening member of the lower chord. Flhe stiifening means the lower margin of .the lower chord, in this instance is preferably formed of a plurality of sections 111 and 112 disposed in an overlapping relation, with the lill section of the side over the trucks formed of restricted depth. lNhile I have shown the lowerstiffening of the lower chord in separate sections, it will be evident that the same result may be attained by bending the angle and forming the side of fishbelly construction. Suitable operating mechanism for th hopper doors, forming no part of the present invention, however, is carried the side of the car as indicated at In the illustration in Fig. 4, the side dumping doors are omitted for the purpose of clearness, but it will be understood that such doors are provided, being pivotally mounted on the hinge brackets 114. Side ladders to meet 'the safety appliance requirements are provided by means of grab handles 115, which are secured tothe end panels, and sill steps 116 which are secured to the lower chords of the side in alineinent, with the grab handles. Extending from the bolster to the end of the car reinforcing` angles 117 rstiflen the end panel longitudinally and provide a support for the floor 118.

The provision of inner and outer stakes in the manner illustrated provides for vertical posts of great strength and rigidity, and furthermore permits the anchoring of the sides to the underframe in a very secure manner, maintaining the sides in a vertical plane and permitting the same to fulfill their functions as load carrying members in a most effective manner.

By my improved side construction I effect important economies in manufacture, inasmuch, as great strength is secured with light weight due to the extreme depth of the side members.

Thile I have shown composite constructions which are the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the side may be constructed of a sheet vof metal and the door openings formed therein in the nature of perforations, thereby, eliminating considerable number of rivets.

I have shown and desc 1ibed what I now consider the preferred embodiments of my invention, but the same are merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1til-.That I claim is: e 1. In a side element for railway cars, the combination with an upper load carrying chord comprising a plate of extended depth dispose edgewise to the load; of a lower load carrying chord of similar construction,

said chords being spaced apart to provide a dumping opening therebetween; a plurality of spaced members between said upper and lower chords, said spaced members being rigidly secured to the chords respectively, .said chords and spacing members together constituting a single rigid structure; and

dumping doors adapted to close the dumping space.

tuting a load carrying member; the combination with upper and lower chords, said chords being spaced apart to provide a dumping space therebetween; of vertical spacing members secured to the said lupper and lower chords; and gusset members betweensaid vertical members and' chord members.

3. In a railway car side element constituting a load carrying member, the combination with upper and lower chords spaced apart to provide a dumping space therebetween; vertical members extending between Vthe upper and lower chords and spaced'apart to provide a plurality of dumpingopenings; reinforcing'members on the lower margin of the upper chord and the rupper margin of the lower chord; and gusset plates disposed on either side of the vertically extending members, said Aplates being secured to the vertically extending members and the reinforced margins of the upper and'lower chords.

ll. In a railway car,`the combination with side walls; of a floor; an Vunderframe including a relatively deep center sill; body bolsters and diaphragms extending between the side walls and center sill, said side walls being formed of upper and lower load carrying chords spaced apart to provide dumping spaces therebetween, each of said chords being in the form of a web plate of extended depth disposed edgewise to the load, and vertical members rigidly connecting said upper and lower chords.

5. In a railway car, the combination with a center sill and body holsters; of side walls adapted to transmit load from bolster to bolster, said side walls comprising upper and lower chords spaced apart to provide dumping spaces therebetween, each of said chords being in the form of a web plate of extended depth disposed edgewise to the load, and vertical members rigidly connecting said upper and lower chords, said chords and vertical members together constituting a single beam; dumping doors hinged to the upper chord intermediate the vertical members; and crossbeams extending between the vertical members of the side walls and the center sill.-

6. In a railway car, having an underframe including a center sill adapted to transmit draft and bufiing strains, the combination with side elements, each of which comprises a web plate of extended depth disposed edgewise to the load and provided adjacent its margins with angularly disposed fianges; of erossbearers connecting the center sill and side elements, said side elements having upper and lower chords spaced apart to provide dumping spaces 2. In a railway car side element constitherebetween, sei d ,upper Irigid lower .members being` united by vertical members to form, :i single load carrying element; and Ydoors pivetally mount-edon heupper eliord rnd 'disposed inter-mediate of., the \ferticzrl,inem bers.

7. In zr railway cer side edaped .orect va beam, the lcombination with cornerposts aU-eacli'end of the car; or' upper rnd lower chord-members extending .between rthe said posts and spaced in a vertical direction fromv eeeheotlier to provide dumping space; vertical members fonneeted o each of said chords; vgusset members connected 'to the .vertical members und .to the chord menibers; ai continuous etiii'ening member extending along the upper margin -o'frthe ripper cliordgshort stifi'enin members extending alongtlie lower me in of lieupper chord between the Vertiezilposts; stiii'ening members secured to the respectf'e margins of the lower chord; and dumpingdoors hinged to the yupper chord.

8. n a railway car, the coinbinziion with end elements end body bolsers; of side elements comprising corner members disposed within the space beween vthe ends of the car to the body bolsters, upper and :lower 4chords erriending .from .v seid corner members, eaeh ofeaid chordsbeing inthe form of :ruweb plaie org-extendedvdepthliaving :singularly `,disposed @enges .along its margins, seid chords ,being spaced apart in a ver-.tical ldirectie11,)Lio prOVideduInping space between the said chords, and vertical members connecting seidupper 1vnd, lower clioridsnlnd dividing, liesides of the car. into a. l plurality. of openings ;,.a n;d doors n to `close lseid dumpingopenings.

9. ,lin e side element of inilwzryezirsihe combination with en upper [load carrying chord comprising -zrplate ofextended depth disposed edgewise to the load, seid web plate having flanges, on .its margins,angularlydisposedwith reference tothe Vweb platego e flower load carryingehord of similar construction, seidehord being vspaced apart to providee dumping ,opening lteli erebetween of efplurelityo' spaced connecting membersgfand dumpingfdoorsadapted to close Jdie dumping space.

ln ,witnessizhzit Lela-im 'thel'oregoinv have hereunto subscribed my naine this 26th Vdziyoii' March, 1923.

ALBERT y E.4 ZIMMER. 

